The Peace Light, sponsored by the International Scouting Movement, has arrived in the diocese after being flown here from Bethlehem with a stop in Vienna, Austria.

The lantern, carrying the flame, arrived via Austrian Air at Kennedy Airport on Saturday, Nov. 25, and was met by representatives of various contingents of Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts and Cub Scouts.

It will be distributed across the diocese as well as into other states so that it can be present at different Scouting events.

A welcoming service was conducted at Our Lady of the Skies Chapel at Kennedy Airport, led by Father Krystian J. Piasta, airport chaplain, and Paul Stanton, chairman of the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting.

The Peace Light is held by representatives of Austria Air as Father Piasta and Deacons Jim Noble of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Windsor Terrace, and Deacon Steven Borheck of Our Lady of the Snows, N. Floral Park, look on.

Father Peter Gillen, pastor of St. Brendan’s parish, Midwood, and members of the parish’s Scouting troops participated in a reception and passing on of the Peace Light to individual lanterns.

The Peace Light originates from a continuously burning flame at the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus in Israel. Scouting conducts distribute the flame to promote world peace and harmony.

Now in its 31th year, the campaign was originally organized by the Austrian Broadcasting Company – ORF (Linz) – and was part of a large charitable relief mission – Light into Darkness, for children in need in Austria and abroad.

For the past 16 years, it has been in America, Canada and Mexico.